Thinkbox Plugin Suite for current 3ds Max versions available

[spacefrog_]

It's finally done !
After some serious heavy lifting, I’m happy to announce that i just released updated builds of the complete Thinkbox MX Plugin Suite for the latest versions of 3ds Max versions!
This includes

• Krakatoa MX
• Stoke MX
• Frost MX
• Mesh MX Loader & Saver
  

These powerfull plugins were originally created by Thinkbox Software and had been unavailable for newer Max releases for a long time. Thinkbox published the source code some time ago on github, so it was possible for me to dive into this complex beast of a codebase 🙂

Downloads&more for 3ds Max 2018 up to 3ds Max 2026
https://www.frogsinspace.at/?p=3926

[miketruly]

Awesome!  Thanks very much Josef!!

[MartinBeh]

Fantastic, thanks very much!

[JK-CAMERON]

Yes this is awesome, thank you so much.  Is there any way we could get the Sequoia Hacksaw importer updated too? 

[JK-CAMERON]

NM.  I got it!!  

[spacefrog_]

'AFAIK Sequoia sourcecode has not been made opensource/is not publicly available
So the answer would be no 

[122528917]

Hello Josef, Thank you for adapting the Thinkbox suite to the latest version of 3ds Max.

But I encountered an issue while using Stoke MX.

I copied the Thinkbox_StokeMX_20XX folder to the ProgramData\Autodesk\ApplicationPlugins directory, then launched 3ds Max. At this point, Stoke MX worked properly.

However, after closing 3ds Max and restarting it, whenever I try to create any of the following—Field Magma, Field Loader, or Field Sim—3ds Max crashes immediately.

The Error Report shows:
Error: Access violation - code c0000005 (first/second chance not available)
Crashed Module Name: stokemx_2023.dlo
Exception Address: 0x00007ff9c4498409
Exception Code: c0000005
Exception Flags: 0
Exception Parameters: 0, 28

I have tested this on multiple computers with different versions of 3ds Max, and all resulted in the above error message.

With the help of AI, I used WinDbg to analyze the 3dsmax_minidump.dmp file. The analysis result indicated:

The crash occurred within the MaxSDK::SharedMesh::GetMeshPtr function of the stokemx_2025.dlo plugin (an error occurred when the plugin called the 3ds Max SDK). The rax register was 0 (a null pointer), which suggests that when the plugin was processing "mesh data (Mesh)", a null pointer access occurred—possibly because the "mesh object was not properly obtained" or "the mesh object had already been released".

I don’t think I can resolve this issue myself, as I am not a professional programmer. I am sending this email to you in the hope of getting your assistance.
Thank you very much.😀

[joescarr]

You rock, dude, thank-you for making these available!!

[122528917]

Fortunately, I have found a solution to fix the crash issue of 3ds Max. Just click on "Stoke" in the menu bar and select "Set Stoke LOG Level To NONE".

[191748339]

Thank you for your solution, i have the same problem.

[necasoft_nis]

Hello Sir. I tried emailing you, it probably ended up in spam. I sincerely hope to get a reply from you, because i tried copying everything like you said and they doesnt work at all, errors pop up upon starting the 3ds max 2025, is there a way you could help us pretty please because im dying for these plug-ins. 

[122528917]

Hello, I haven't received the email you sent. However, the AUTODESK forum sent me an email notifying me of your reply. I don't quite understand the problem you're currently encountering. Because your description is different from my situation — when I launch 3ds Max, no error message pops up; instead, 3ds Max crashes directly when I try to create a Stoke MX Field Magma. Could you describe your situation in detail?

[necasoft_nis]

Thanks God i got a reply, i sincerely hope to resolve this because im dying to pair up Krakatoa with the new FumeFX again. The problem is, when i install it(extract the files that SpaceFrog said to, into plugins folder) and start the 3ds max, a few errors pop up regarding unable to load scripts etc, there is no Krakatoa gui, no modifiers, no toolbar, nothing. Same situation applies for Stoke and Frost, no toolbars, no guis, nothing. Screenshots of different errors applied:

SS1  https://prnt.sc/OkvPH-iaTa6X
SS2  https://prnt.sc/l6FSJ9URxA37

SS3 https://prnt.sc/dy2NEcVxhmS4

SS4 https://prnt.sc/TEWdS3IF55Do

Toolbars SS https://prnt.sc/rBwYvJ1K0BBb

I look forward to hearing more from you and hopefully solving this, I'll be dying out of happiness. Thankyou sincerely for your time!

[spacefrog_]

Sorry for the late reply but  currently i have zero time to spend for anything outside of my day to day work 
but your screenshot shows exactly the problem in the error popup:

You copied everything to the <3dsMaxFolder>/Plugins folder ,
YOU SHOULD NOT DO THAT !
DELETE EVERYTHING OF THE THINKBOX STUFF YOU EXTRACTED FROM THE ZIPS FROM THAT FOLDER

Here's part of  the readme from the download page ( which i failed to include in the zip files, which certainly is, my fault )
Installation:
After downloading the zip file, simply extract and copy the corresponding 3ds Max version’s folder to your preferred <ApplicationPlugins> location.

This <ApplicationPlugins> folder location here is ONE of the following locations, the zip content should be extracted to that folder
I would recommend using the first one

• %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Autodesk\ApplicationPlugins            ->  plugins are enabled for all users, recommended
  
  
• %APPDATA%\Autodesk\ApplicationPlugins                             ->  plugins are enabled only for the current user
  
  
• <3dsMaxRootFolder>/ApplicationPlugins            ->  less recommended, but still works

•  

Hope that helps !

[122528917]

I found the detailed installation instructions on Changsoo Eun's website:https://cganimator.com/application-plugin-package/

[necasoft_nis]

Allow me to pass my sincere thanks to both of You, @spacefrog_  and @122528917 for helping me out, regarding the installation, and the Stoke crashing fix(i read it from the previous post of @122528917 ). Trust me, you cannot imagine how thrilled i am out of happiness, at the moment. I was dying to pair up, in my humble opinion, the legendary FumeFX plug in with these but in Max 2025 because of the new FumeFX version - You two made this happen and im forever grateful. Farewell!

[necasoft_nis]

Hello guys, unfortunately its me again. I just tried creating stoke simulator from a toolbar while i had fumefx sim selected, it creates the node but without fumefx grid, it says it reads velocity data and other exported channels but when i try selecting the fumefx grid i cant, has anyone else experienced this? Happens for both fumefx 6 and 7. I apologise for disturbing once again.. Cheers

[spacefrog_]

might be that fumefx support is not fully integrated. i cant remember exactly TBH 
The publicly release sourcecode ( from which these builds are created from) was outdated / had only fumefx 5 integration as far i remember

And the API totally changed with Fumefx 6+
I tried to do the fumex 6 integration, but simply failed/ran out of available time ( as said -> dont remember exactly )

I think thats one of the things you have to live with for the time being

[necasoft_nis]

Thankyou for your time to respond Sir, dont get me wrong im not ungrateful for everything you've done for us regarding the Thinkbox plugin suite, i just wanted to check this one out. Thankyou once again.